Mobile terminal

Abstract

A mobile terminal is disclosed, by which a user is facilitated to carry and use a terminal in a simple and easy way. According to the present invention, since a camera module is configured in a manner that a protective cover is provided not to a case but to a module body, it is advantageous in protecting a lens unit provided to the module body before installing the camera module at the case. While light passes through a protective cover, a protective cover physically isolates an inside of a camera module from an outside to prevent external particles from being introduced into the camera module. Therefore, it is advantageous in enhancing durability of the camera module. A loading portion is provided to a case to guide an installation position of a camera module. A separate cover is not added to the case. And, a protective cover of a camera module is directly exposed to outside. Therefore, accumulation of numerical value tolerance is barely generated and an assembly process is simplified.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mobile terminal comprising:
 a case having a penetrating hole; 
 a camera module located in the case, the camera module including:
 an incident hole open towards the penetrating hole; 
 at least one lens facing the incident hole; and 
 an image sensor configured to form an optical image of a subject delivered via the incident hole to convert the optical image to an electric signal; and 
 
 a protective cover attached to a surface of the camera module having the incident hole, the protective cover being formed of a transparent material through which light passes, and the protective cover being exposed through the case via the penetrating hole of the case, 
 wherein the case includes a recessed loading portion provided along an edge of the penetrating hole, and a portion of said surface of the camera module contacts the loading portion, and 
 wherein an inner surface of the case at the penetrating hole includes a guide portion inclined at an angle with respect to the penetrating hole along an edge of the penetrating hole. 
 
     
     
       2. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive between the protective cover and said surface of the camera module. 
     
     
       3. The mobile terminal of  claim 2 , wherein said surface of the camera module is supported by an inner surface of the case. 
     
     
       4. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the penetrating hole is configured to receive the protective cover and wherein an outer surface of the protective cover and an outer surface of the case are located in the same plane. 
     
     
       5. The mobile terminal of  claim 4 , wherein a height of the protective cover projected from said surface of the camera module is equal to a thickness of the case at the loading portion. 
     
     
       6. The mobile terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the penetrating hole is sized to conform to an outer circumference of the protective cover. 
     
     
       7. The mobile terminal of  claim 6 , wherein an outer diameter of the protective cover is set greater than an inner diameter of the penetrating hole and wherein the protective cover is forcibly fitted into the penetrating hole by shrink-fitting. 
     
     
       8. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein a sealing member is provided at an inner circumference of the penetrating hole to enclose and support an outer circumference of the protective cover. 
     
     
       9. The mobile terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing member is formed of a compressible material. 
     
     
       10. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the guide portion is arranged between the penetrating hole and the loading portion. 
     
     
       11. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is formed of tempered glass. 
     
     
       12. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the camera module includes a module body, the incident hole is provided in one surface of the module body, and the at least one lens and image sensor are located in the module body. 
     
     
       13. A mobile terminal comprising:
 a case having a penetrating hole; 
 a camera module provided within the case, the camera module comprising:
 at least one lens facing the penetrating hole; and 
 an image sensor configured to form an optical image of a subject delivered via the at least one lens to convert the optical image to an electric signal; and 
 
 a protective cover inserted in the penetrating hole to protect the at least one lens, 
 wherein the case includes a recessed loading portion provided along an edge of the penetrating hole, and a portion of a surface of the camera module facing the protective cover contacts the loading portion, and 
 wherein an inner surface of the case at the penetrating hole includes a guide portion inclined at an angle with respect to the penetrating hole along an edge of the penetrating hole. 
 
     
     
       14. The mobile terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the camera module includes an incident hole provided at said surface of the camera module and the protective cover is affixed to said surface of the camera module. 
     
     
       15. The mobile terminal of  claim 14 , wherein said surface of the camera module is supported by an inner surface of the case. 
     
     
       16. The mobile terminal of  claim 15 , wherein an outer surface of the protective cover and an outer surface of the case are located in the same plane.